New Opals coach Brendan Joyce has a ''good pedigree'' to chase Olympic Games gold but his biggest challenge will be adjusting to coaching women, former Australian mentor Carrie Graf says.
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Joyce has been appointed as Graf's successor to lead the Opals for the next four years and try to secure the elusive gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
The NBL championship-winning coach has plenty of experience with men's teams. He played 289 NBL games, coached Wollongong Hawks to two grand finals series and was an assistant with the Australian men for eight years.
Graf - who was in charge of the Opals from 2008-2012 - said Joyce faced a unique challenge of working with Australia's premier female basketballers. But she hoped his appointment would break down barriers between men's and women's sport.
''He's got good pedigree as a coach but the biggest challenge is he hasn't coached women before,'' Graf said.
''Basketball is basketball and coaching is coaching. But this speaks volumes for the opportunity for a coach of women's basketball to be on the staff of the Boomers [Australian men's team] one day. If coaching is coaching … it presents challenges when you take over a women's team. It takes a little while to adjust to working with another gender in that environment. It's a great opportunity for [Joyce] to be full-time in that Opals job.''
Joyce also becomes head of the women's centre of excellence program at the Australian Institute of Sport, based in Canberra.
Graf decided not to reapply after claiming a bronze medal at the London Games last year.
The Canberra Capitals mentor will focus on chasing another WNBL crown after signing a three-year deal to remain with the club.
''The timing for me wasn't right … it will be fun to sit back and watch how the Opals progress and with Brendan here in Canberra we can see how they move forward from a different perspective,'' she said.
Joyce has thrown the welcome mat out to players shown the door before the London Olympics.
Joyce says a priority of his new role will be youth development and injured superstar Lauren Jackson's recovery ahead of her ''last crack'' at Olympic gold in Rio.
However, Joyce was also keen to welcome back anyone who thought the Opals door had closed.
At the top of his list is guard Erin Phillips who helped Indiana win last season's WNBA title after being omitted from the Olympics.
''I will be encouraging her to come back. She is a sensational player,'' said Joyce, who has been contracted until the Rio Games.
''And there have been others who have been close and been overlooked - I will open the door and let them have another crack.''
Joyce added with a laugh: ''And since I have come aboard no one wants to retire now which is a good thing.''
Among veterans in Joyce's sights are 38-year-old point guard Kristi Harrower and centre and 32-year-old Suzy Batkovic.